RE: I18n recharter should address localizability

> 1. What is the nature of the deliverables? To put something in a
> charter, we need to know exactly what the working group would deliver.

I can think of one possible deliverable: a namespace for localization
directives. But I'm not sure exactly where it belongs, since it seems to be
between "localizability of W3C technologies" (such as XHTML or XML) and
"localization technologies" (like TMX, XLIFF, etc.).

[In a few words: Localization directives are information inside a document
that helps the localization process, for example identifying run of text not
to be translated, marking up "terms", etc.
Having a common namespace for this could lead to more control by the
authors/developer of the source material on how the localization is done.
For example, one can imagine any authoring application using XML has
repository to provide a function to markup not-translatable parts the same
way you can apply a character style. And all localization tools being able
to take advantage of it.]

While this certainly does not replace following guidelines in creating
localizable document types, it still is an important part of creating
documents that are more easily localizable.

So, I'm not sure where such specification should be done, but seems to be a
possible deliverable for the W3C. And if the W3C would decide not to take on
this task, it would also be helpful as this would make clear another group
has to do it then.

As far as participation, I can't be sure, but from the level of interest I'm
seen for such namespace in various companies, I would guess such work would
find some volonteers.

-yves

Yves Savourel
ENLASO Corporation
http://www.translate.com

Received on Friday, 16 July 2004 12:23:19 UTC